PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi refused to meet with participants of the Balochistan National Workshop during their official visit to Peshawar.
The absence of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members of the National Assembly or members of the Provincial Assembly from the significant event has drawn criticism from multiple quarters.
The workshop, organised as part of a national initiative to foster inter-provincial understanding and dialogue, saw enthusiastic participation from Balochistan’s civil society members, youth, and political representatives. However, the apparent lack of interest from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leadership cast a shadow over the proceedings.
Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, a Balochistan-based political leader and participant of the workshop, publicly expressed disappointment over the CM’s non-engagement. “Is CM Afridi busier than the Chief of Army Staff?” Khetran questioned, referring to the COAS’s active involvement in the workshop earlier in Islamabad, where he dedicated nearly five hours to engaging with the delegation. “If the country’s top military official can take out time, why not the elected leadership of a province?” he added.
Observers have noted that such snubs risk undermining efforts to build national cohesion, especially at a time when inter-provincial harmony is critical to addressing shared challenges. The silence from PTI lawmakers in both KP and the National Assembly has further fueled speculation about internal party priorities and disinterest in cross-provincial engagement.
No official statement has yet been issued by the KP Chief Minister’s Office explaining the absence.
The Balochistan National Workshop is part of an ongoing federal initiative to bridge the communication gap between Balochistan and other parts of the country, encouraging dialogue on socio-economic development, security, and governance.
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